Corvair on American Top Gear

[Scott H]

The episode is called "Dangerous Cars"
From the trailer I saw, it looks like they use a '62 coupe.

Dangerous Cars:
Tuesday, Feb 28, 9/8c

http://www.history.com/shows/top-gear

[Trip]

Should be interesting, thanks for the tip-off. I expect it to be full of misinformation but maybe I'll get a pleasant surprise. I don't have the channel, I'll have to get a hold of it by other means.......

[Scott H]

Yeah I'm hoping it does well.
After it airs you'll be able to watch the full episode online.

[Oliver]

I've been a fan of British Top Gear for a long time, but never so much the American version. I just saw the trailer, and, no surprise, I have mixed feelings. Apart from the fact that my least favorite presenter, Rutledge, is driving it, it also looks like they ruin the car with their "improvements" and then enter it into a demolition derby. It should prove entertaining, but it will be sad to see a running '62 Corvair turned into junk.

[Corvair.crazy]

I agree the British version is more entertaining. I expect the same old Nader blah, blah ,blah GM, blah,blah,blah then they wreck the car. And probalbly say that is what the car deserves. I could be wrong, I am a little pessimistic at times.

[reidmier]

They "fix" the EM by putting really wide tires on the back and then they wreck all the cars in a demolition derby. Not cool!

[flat6_musik]

Yeah, I agree......I wish I would hear some fresh positive points of view from the so-called "experts" other than their smug, snickering one-liners and dog-piling and bashing our cars with decades old complaints.

Oh yeah, and how 'bout a side-by-side comparo with VW beetles from the day. Do the old beetles actually handle that much better?? Maybe they do, I dunno, but those things are a super stone-age design.

[CorvairKid]

Just say the episode and first off its very sad to see the good of shape corvair get destroyed! The guy needs to learn how to drive the car second and he should have not picked a powerglide. And why would you ever want to put six tires on the rear axles??????

I think if he had a LM corvair it would have been even better in road corses

[Oliver]

I agree on the sadness. The '62 was in such good shape when they started. :-( Overall, the episode wasn't terrible, I'll admit. I admit that it was ridiculous, in true Top Gear fashion, and that the things Rutledge decided would "fix" the Corvair weren't practical and were certainly unnecessary. I was very disappointed at the results of the road course, but I think we can peg that on the driver. I'm also bummed that they did not put the cars in the hands of the Stig's American Cousin. I would very much like to see what a professional driver, and not a self-proclaimed one, could do with such a great car. In the end it wasn't pretty, but the Corvair takes the W even in spite of Rutledge.

Serious question. Are Early's really that twitchy? Or are the multiple spin outs on what appears to be a fairly straight-forward road course because of the driver?

[Trip]

Yeah, I agree......I wish I would hear some fresh positive points of view from the so-called "experts" other than their smug, snickering one-liners and dog-piling and bashing our cars with decades old complaints.

Oh yeah, and how 'bout a side-by-side comparo with VW beetles from the day. Do the old beetles actually handle that much better?? Maybe they do, I dunno, but those things are a super stone-age design.

Watch this video, here is an expert who knows his stuff. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-ga ... air-corsa/

Also note, Jay Leno listed the Corvair among his personal "Top ten US collector cars" in an interview with a major magazine. He has three Corvairs that I know of, a late Monza, a Rampside, and this Corsa.

[indianalakewood1961]

I sent twitter messages to all three and invited them to come to the convention and autocross and learn to drive a corvair the right way. It looks like they check twitter messages so it will be interesting if they take me up on the offer..

[swi66]

Rutledge clearly doesn't know how to drive.
I have a 62 and it handles much better than his did.

They did present some good facts.

But it is a TV show for entertainment purposes.

Not for educational.

But they did find a great use for Nader's book........ballast!

One other thing.
Many years ago, a friend and I hooked up dual wheels on the back of a 62-63 Plymouth field car. With the welding skills of a nearby mechanic. It was a waste of time...........car was no better a field car.

[indianalakewood1961]

Here was the response I got. I tweet back at him to seriously consider the invitation..

[Honda750Guy]

i did not think the episode was to bad, season 2/3 has been growing on me. they did ruin that corvair, and if tanner had it i am sure it would have done much better on all of those tests.

[Scott H]

http://www.history.com/shows/top-gear/v ... erous-cars

[Scott H]

Did anyone notice the first corvair was a '62 and the demolition derby corvair was a '63?